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Food for Thought

Almond butter was the first to challenge the decades-long dominance of creamy and crunchy peanut butter. Now, seed butters represent a hot new trend in spreads, each offering a unique flavor and nutritional profile. This trio of no-nut spreads is worthy of pantry space:

Sesame Seed Butter

Often labeled as tahini, this spread of ground sesame seeds has a rich, smoky flavor and velvety texture. As a good source of mono- and polyunsaturated fats, it can help keep your heart strong.

This green-hued spread has a thinner consistency than nut butters and an earthy, nutty flavor. Pumpkin seeds’ nutritional claim to fame is laudable amounts of magnesium, a mineral shown to reduce blood pressure numbers, according to Hypertension (2016).

Prep tip: Stir some maple syrup and pumpkin-pie spice into pumpkin seed butter and then stuff the mix into the crevices of celery sticks. Sprinkle dried cranberries on top for a modern riff on ants on a log.

Sunflower Seed Butter

This option has a consistency and flavor most similar to ye-olde peanut butter; it’s even available in smooth and crunchy. Nutritionwise, sunflower seed butter is a good source of vitamin E, a potent antioxidant linked to better brain functioning, according to Neurobiology of Aging.

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About the Author

Matthew Kadey, MS, RD, is a James Beard Award-winning journalist, Canada-based dietitian, freelance nutrition writer and recipe developer. He has written for dozens of magazines including Runner’s World, Men’s Health, Shape, Vegetarian Times and Fitness.